Drummer Joe Russo (Joe Russo’s Almost Dead) has released a new album of solo material, phér•bŏney. The album was recorded by Russo at Woodlot Recording in Brooklyn, NY, with additional recording and mixing/mastering by D. James Goodwin at The Isokon in Woodstock, NY.
Each of the album’s nine tracks was written and performed by Russo, with several songs also featuring work by Joe’s various regular collaborators. “phér•bŏney love theme” features tenor sax from Erik Lawrence. “Can’t Wink” features Robbie Mangano on baritone guitar and synth bass. “Molly & Anni” features Mangano on electric, acoustic, and baritone guitars as well as Stuart Bogie on tenor sax. “Perfectabilitarians” again features Mangano on electric and acoustic guitar and piano with Jon Shaw also playing electric and upright bass. “The Wow! Signal” features Josh Kaufman on electric guitar and bass and Stuart Bogie on tenor sax. “Waters of March” is the sole song on the album not written by Russo, with music and lyrics credited to
Antônio Carlos Jobim.
The sonically avant-garde jazz fusion record plays with a litany of ethereal, ambient tones and genre-bending sensibilities—a welcome change of pace for drummer most frequently heard these days playing music from the Grateful Dead‘s rock and roll repertoire with JRAD.
You can listen to Joe Russo’s new album, phér•bŏney, below via Spotify or YouTube:
Joe Russo – phér•bŏney – Full Album
You can also check out a full tracklisting and album cover art designed by Baptiste Ibar below.
Joe Russo will be back in action out west with Joe Russo’s Almost Dead at the end of this month. On Friday, May 31st, JRAD will perform at the Cuthbert Amphitheater in Eugene, OR. The band will continue their weekend run from there with shows at Redmond, WA’s Marymoor Amphitheater on Saturday, June 1st, and at Bonner-west Riverside, MT’s KettleHouse Amphitheater on Sunday, June 2nd.
For a full list of Joe Russo’s Almost Dead’s upcoming tour dates, head to the band’s website here.